Site Administration The College of William and Mary

Judicial Affairs

Help! I've Been Accused!

If you have been accused of an honor code violation, you must report that you have been accused to the Honor Council within 24 hours of accusation. You can report yourself in three ways:

1. Stop by the Honor Council Office, Campus Center 167,
between the hours of 10am-3pm
2. Call the Honor Council Office at 221-3305
between the hours of 10am-3pm
or leave a voice message
3. E-Mail us at honorc@wm.edu

Resources

Student Counsels

Every student going through the Honor Council process is entitled to a Student Counsel. These individuals have been trained by the Council to help guide students through our process. Along with the Chair and the PA, the Student Council is yet another source of support and guidance. The Student Council, however, is not a lawyer. Although they are present during the hearing, they are not there to help get an accused student "off the hook", they're there to answer questions that the accused student may have, to speak on their behalf, and to aid in asking questions.

For a list of current trained student counsels, click here.  If you are interested in becoming a Student Council, e-mail us at honorc@wm.edu.

Sanctions

Not every case that goes through our process moves to the hearing phase, and, not every case that has a hearing is found guilty. If found guilty, however, you will recieve a sanction. Regardless of the outcome of your case, it's important that you familiarize yourself with all of the possible sanctions. They range from oral and written warnings to permanent dismissal. For a detailed look at all of our sanctions, both primary and secondary, and what they mean, click here.

Witnesses

A major part of your hearing is the sanctions hearing. At this point, you are entitled three (3) character witnesses and/or letters written on your behalf that are read at the hearing. We recognize that asking your friends, teachers, or other important people in your life to come speak on your behalf at an Honor Council hearing can be both awkward and intimidating. We have provided, however, a witness information sheet, which details our expectations for witnesses and what witnesses can expect from us. Use this as a reference when explaining the role and importance of the character witness to those you have chosen to represent you.

What Happens at a Hearing?

As outlined in the Honor Council Process Page, the hearing is in two phases, Verdict and Sanctioning, and are held in the same night. A sanctions hearing only occurs when guilt has been determined.
The night of the hearing, almost everyone who has been involved in the case, as well as the six student panel members, will be present. These individuals include: the Chair, a member of the panel serving as Trial Secretary, your PA, the ICC, the accuser, any materials witnesses, and your Counsel, if you choose to have one. During the sanctions hearing, the individuals present include: the Chair, the six person panel, your PA and your Character Witnesses.
Below is information regarding our definitions for Resonable Doubt and Triviality, as well as some of the guidelines we use to base decisions.

Helpful Definitions

  • Triviality -- "A 'trivial' violation... is one with no possible consequence to a matter of legitimate concern to the academic community, or one with no tendency to undermine trust within the community"
  • Reasonable Doubt -- the standard on which the verdict is decided: "doubt which an ordinary student might entertain, not imagined doubt, or doubt which a student might create in order to avoid the unpleasant duty of finding guilt." A very high standard of evidence.
  • Mitigating Circumstances -- Circumstances "in the nature of the offense or the circumstances of the accused" which make sanctions less than suspension appropriate.

Aspects that the Council Considers for Sanctions

  • The Nature of the Violation
    • What consequences or potential consequences were there?
  • Prior Violations/Previous Disciplinary History
    • We sanction to prevent future disciplinary encounters.
    • What has the student learned from past incidents?
    • Is this situation similar to past incidents in type or nature?
  • Mitigating Circumstances Surrounding the Violation
    • These may include: personal circumstances (death of family member, traumatic experience, etc.), attitude when confronted and during the process, demonstration of understanding, etc.
    • Mitigating circumstances should be documented
    • If a student knew the consequences of the behavior at the time and chose to take part in the situation, then mitigation is not really there.
    • Special interests are not mitigating.
  • Motivation for the Behavior
    • What was the intent or was there intent?
    • Why did the student do what he/she did?
  • Development and Educational Impact
    • What developmental impact will proposed sanctions have on the student?
    • What impact will they have on the community?
    • We attempt to balance individual rights and responsibilities with community expectations. Thus, our goal is to educate the student and the community on what appropriate behaviors and expectations are.

As a Member of the William & Mary community. I pledge, on my Honor, not to lie, cheat, or steal in either my academic or personal life. I understand that such acts violate the Honor Code and undermine the community of trust of which we are all stewards.

-- The William and Mary Honor Pledge

Office of the Dean of Students  ·   P.O. Box 8795   ·   Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
(757) 221-2510 (Voice)  ·  (757) 221-2302 (TDD)  ·  (757) 221-2538 (Fax)  ·  doscom@wm.edu
Location:  109 Campus Center via Jamestown Rd.

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